Department of Justice

Petersburg Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery and Gun Crimes

RICHMOND, Va. – Deontae Jamar Hargrave, 23, of Petersburg, was sentenced today to 237 months in prison for two separate offenses, including robbery affecting interstate commerce, and using, possessing, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Hargrave was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 4, 2015. According to court documents, on Nov. 3, 2014, Hargrave robbed a 7-Eleven convenience store in Petersburg and brandished a .40 caliber firearm. Hargrave threatened the cashier with the firearm and demanded the funds in the cash register. When they cashier paused, Hargrave raised the firearm next to the cashier and fired a round into a display case behind the clerk. Hargrave obtained approximately $40 and three packs of cigarettes from the robbery. Subsequently, Hargrave sent a threatening letter which was the subject of testimony at the sentencing hearing.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael Boxler, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Office; and John I. Dixon III, Chief of Petersburg Bureau of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Assistant U.S. Attorney S. David Schiller prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:15-cr-37.